Confessions of a Chocoholic

So today we are going to talk about my absolute most favorite food on the planet and that is chocolate. So let me set the record straight, I am not talking about candy bars or hot cocoa I am talking about cacao, the raw dark antioxidant-rich food that has some amazing complex nutrition wrapped up in it. I have been in love with all forms of chocolate since I was a kid but it wasn’t until I discover the raw cacao bean form that really gave me a new profound love for this amazing food. Today we will explore the many benefits you can receive from eating chocolate daily everything from weight loss, heart health, and even better oral health.

Dark Chocolate for Weight Loss:

Now doesn’t this sound like a diet plan that you would enjoy? So if we are going to look at weight loss and chocolate then we need to explore the brain benefits of this amazing bean.

  • Dark chocolate contains a neurochemical called theobromine that studies show when eaten helps suppress the appetite thus leading to weight loss.
  • Dark chocolate in a small amount in the 80% to 90% range can help curve sugar cravings especially. Now a rule of thumb is when you crave sugar go ahead and snap off a piece of dark chocolate instead and watch the sugar craving melt away.
  • Dark chocolate is also rich in magnesium which relaxes the mind and body so helping reduce stress can result in help with weight management as well.

Dark Chocolate for the Heart:

  • So dark chocolate contains a class of phytochemicals called polyphenols that have been shown to act as a cardiotonic for the heart.
  • This cardioprotective substance can help strengthen the blood vessels and prevent oxidative damage to the veins and arteries.
  • Dark chocolate helps with stress management and anything that can help take away stress can help protect your cardiovascular system.
  • If you get a daily dose of chocolate, you can help keep your cardiovascular system strong.

Dark Chocolate & Oral Health:

  • I recently was in Whole Foods and saw a toothpaste called Theodent and was curious because the packaging looked like it was a chocolate bar. I picked it up only to read that a phytochemical blend they deemed as Rennou can help clean the teeth and balanced the oral health environment.
  • Studies have shown that even when you eat dark chocolate it can kill harmful bacteria on the teeth that cause plaque buildup.
  • Here at Smile Ranch we believe in a fluoride free dentistry approach. So we support any approach to great oral heath that is fluoride free.

Conclusion:

So as you can see a daily dose of dark chocolate can revolutionize your health. It is amazing that the power of this food is so tasty and versatile. Just make sure that every chocolate that you choose is at least 80% to 90% cacao content so it’s not filled with a ton of sugar. Stay tuned for the next blog where we explore on of my favorite colon cleaning procedures oh yeah I am talking about enemas and colonics.